, which is a great convenience to lazy fellows, or to those
who have too much work. Give my love to all, and

Believe me, my dear mother,

Your affectionate son,

WILLIAM J. WILLS.

. . .

Magnetic Observatory, Melbourne, June 17th, 1859.

MY DEAR BESSY,

I must write a few lines to you, more especially as I wrote to
Hannah by the last mail; but mind, I must have a long answer by
return of post. I want to know whether Charles got the maps of the
stars that I told him to get some time ago. If so, he should begin
at once to keep a register of meteors. In the first place, let him
get a book--a good copybook would do--and rule it according to the
following form, to which I have attached an example:--

Column 1: Number (Name) of Meteor.
Column 2: Day of Month.
Column 3: Hour of Day.
Column 4: Altitude. At commencement.
Column 5: Altitude. At end.
Column 6: Azimuth. At commencement.
Column 7: Azimuth. At end.
Column 8: Description of its situation with respect to certain Stars.
At commencement.
Column 9: Description of its situation with respect to certain Stars.
At end.

1 : June 1 : 8 P.M. : 35 degrees : 20 degrees : north-east : east
by south : 2 or 3 degrees below Spice. : To Anthers.

Column 1: Size of Meteor.
Column 2: Length of Tail.
Column 3: Colour of Meteor.
Column 4: Duration of Meteor.
Column 5: Duration of Tail.
Column 6: REMARKS.
Column 7: Observer.

May 2 : 5 degrees : Yellow : 1 second : 3 seconds : Small, but
very bright. : west.

The time should be very carefully noted. If there is anything in the
form that he does not understand he must ask me about it when he
writes. The altitude and azimuths will only be approximate, but the
main thing is to see how the shooting stars are situated with
reference to the fixed stars. It is of great importance to note
these meteors, even the small ones, as very little is yet known of
them; and every observation, if carefully made, will some day help
to show what they are. The object in noting the stars they pass by
is this: that if two or more observers see the same meteor from
places several miles from one another, the comparison of their
observations will generally give a means of ascertaining the
distance of the meteor from the earth. But it is getting late, and
I will write to Charley more about it by next mail; only tell him
to make himself well acquainted with the stars. Give my love to him
and Hannah, your aunt M., and old Anne;